Casting has been confirmed for the Bridge Theatre’s eagerly anticipated upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s magical musical Into the Woods.
Directed by Jordan Fein (Fiddler on the Roof, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) with design by Tony Award winner Tom Scutt (Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, West End/Broadway) the first London production of the fairy tale-inspired musical since 2016 will begin preview performances at the south London venue on 2 December. The 20-week run will end on 18 April 2026.
Fein will direct Valda Aviks (The Addams Family Musical, original UK tour) as Grandmother/Giant, Geoffrey Aymer (The Wizard of Oz, London Palladium) as Cinderella’s Father, Katie Brayben (Tammy Faye, Broadway/Almeida Theatre) as the Baker’s Wife, Bella Brown (Evita – London Palladium) as Rapunzel, Chumisa Dornford-May (Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812, Donmar Warehouse) as Cinderella, Kate Fleetwood (London Road, National Theatre) as the Witch, Jo Foster (Why Am I So Single?, Garrick Theatre) as Jack, Michael Gould (Oedipus, Wyndham’s Theatre) as the Narrator/Mysterious Man, Jennifer Hepburn (Mamma Mia!, Novello Theatre) as Cinderella’s Stepmother, Hana Ichijo (The Baker’s Wife, Menier Chocolate Factory) as Lucinda, Julie Jupp (A Christmas Carol, Old Vic) as Jack’s Mother, Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson (42nd Street, Theatre Royal Drury Lane) as Florinda, Gracie McGonigal (The Little Big Things, @Soho Place) as Little Red Riding Hood, Hughie O’Donnell (King Lear, Wyndham’s Theatre) as the Steward, Jamie Parker (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre) as the Baker, Oliver Savile (Wicked, Apollo Victoria) as Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf and Rhys Whitfield (The Phantom of the Opera, His Majesty’s Theatre) as Rapunzel’s Prince.
The cast will be completed by Standbys: Taite-Elliot Drew (Cabaret, The Kit Kat Club), Jacob Fowler (Heathers, The Other Palace), Sophie Linder Lee (Wicked, Apollo Victoria) and Chloe Saracco (Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812, Donmar Warehouse).
Commenting on the production, Fein said: “I’m thrilled and honoured to direct this new production of Into the Woods at The Bridge. It’s a musical that speaks to the necessity and power of community through the brilliant music and words of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. To create this production with such an extraordinary cast and creative team is an actual dream come true.”
Announcing the production earlier this year, The Bridge co-founder Nicholas Hytner said: “Into the Woods is one of the great achievements of the American stage. Jordan Fein’s production of Fiddler on the Roof at the Open Air Theatre last year was a triumph, beautifully staged and overwhelmingly moving, and Tom Scutt has established himself across the world as a designer of rare talent and imagination.”
With music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by Lapine, Into the Woods debuted on Broadway in 1987 with a production that went on to win three Tony Awards including a Leading Actress in a Musical Award for Joanna Gleason for her performance as the Baker’s Wife.
The original West End production in 1990 was nominated for seven Olivier Awards, winning two – the Best Actress in a Musical Award for Imelda Staunton who also played the Baker’s Wife and the Best Director of a Musical Award for Richard Jones.
Angela Thomas
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